Inventory board



Oct. 27, 1959 H. A. sPlTTLER HENRY ASPITTLER y @ff/ HIS ATTORNEY.

Oct. 27, 1959 H. A. sPrrTLER 2,909,856

INVENTORY BOARD Filed Sept. 4, V1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F I G. 3 F I G. 4

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HENRY A.SPITTLER l L BYXO., @540% HIS ATTORNEY.

Oct. 27, 1959 Filed Sept. 4, 1958 H. A. SPITTLER INVENTORY BOARD 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 HENRY A. sPjTTLER BY i fbg/ML HIS ATTORN EY.

Oct. 27, 1959 H. A. SPITTLER INVENTORY BOARD HIS ATTORNEY.

2,909,855 Patented Oct. 27, 1959 iifce INVENTORY BOARD Henry Spittler, Ridgewood, NJ. Application september 4, 195s, serial No. 758,981 claims. (Cl. 40-36) This invention relates to changeable display devices and relates more particularly to a novel changeable inventory board arrangement wherein a plurality of boards or charts are enclosed within the lower section of a housing and wherein a selected board under the control of any one of several operators at points more or less remote from the board may be raised to visible position and remain in such elevated position until its purpose has been served, at which time it is moved back into the housing by power driven means.

Inventory boards contain all kinds of detailed and miscellaneous data which is constantly being changed during the work day so the individual boards are provided with a toothed surface to receive chalk or crayon marks capable of easy erasure.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide improved control means for selectively moving individual boards to viewing position and without requiring any complicated driving means.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a single chart elevating means common to and connected with all the charts, and also selective actuating means whereby a desired chart can be connected with the elevating means by the use of a solenoid or other prime mover.

The period of time that a given chart remains in elevated or viewing position will Vary but the principal consideration is vthat it remains there as long as is desired without further attention on the part of the operator.

The apparatus of the present invention is useful for inventory or production control charts in manufacturing and storage establishments and it also has a particular application in educational institutions where some of the charts may comprise writing surfaces and others may contain permanent data where the entire chart is removed when the data is no longer useful. 'I'he permanent data may comprise maps, periodic charts of the elements, and numerous other types of material, and in most instances one chart may be a projection screen for pictures. The chart supporting means are so arranged that a chart may be readily removed and another inserted in its place.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an inventory board ernbodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken elevation, partially in section, of the chart raising means shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. l.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged broken view, partially in section, showing the operation of the chart elevating means.

Fig. 8 shows a typical circuit arrangement.

The apparatus of the present invention has a generally rectangular frame 10 which is shown as formed from rectangular tubing 11 and has a height substantially twice the height of the charts or boards 12, one of which is shown at 12a in Fig. 6 in an elevated position. The main section of the frame is slightly larger than the length of the charts. Each chart is supported at opposite ends edge of the chart.

upper end of the frame is spaced apart a distance equal thereof by U-shaped channels or guide rails 13 extending from the top to the bottom of the frame and lixed therein, each channel being of sucient width to allow the chart to have a free sliding up and down travel.

The charts are formed from sheet metal, plastic sheeting or composition material of sulcient rigidity to move up and down without buckling. Since most of the charts are arranged `to receive figures and other data by chalk or crayon they should have a toothed surfacing which readily takes the chalk marking and which permits easy erasure. One of the boards will usually be a still or motion picture projection screen.

The lower section of the frame shown in Fig. 1 has a front wall 14 of substantially the same height Yas the charts and a rear wall 15 extends the full height of the frame. The opposed end sections of the frame are enclosed by end walls (not shown).

Each chart is supported by two cables 16 and 17 which are secured to rings 19 Xed at oppositeends of the upper A pair of shafts 20 and 21 at the substantially to the length of the chart and these shafts each have a plurality of pulleys 22 freely mounted thereon, each pulley preferably having two annular grooves, one for each of cables 16 17 secured to each chart.

The operating parts are positioned at one end section 23 of therectangular housing and it can be at either end thereof. A plurality of lixed tubes 24 are mounted in side-by-side relation, one for each chart, and these tubes extend upwardly from the lower end of the frame less than the full height thereof and are open at their upper ends. An elongated weight 25 is supported for sliding movement within each tube and each pair of cables 16 17 is secured at one end thereof to one of the weights.

. A shaft 26 above the open-ended tubes 24 has a plurality of pulleys 27 similar to pulleys 22 over which the pairs of cables pass. Substantially midway between the shafts 26 and 21 (Figs. 7 `and 5) there is`secured a pair of spaced vertical guide rods 29 which vcarry a frame 30 in sliding relation, same frame including a pair of supporting tubes 31 mounted on the guide rods. The tubes have cross bars 32 extending therebetween. A shaft 33 also extends between the supporting tubes 31 above thecross bars 32. This shaft carries a plurality of pulleys 34, each having two annular grooves, one for each of the cables 16 17 of the pairs. These pulleys are shown in Fig. 5 as having spacer bushings 35 therebetween. The cables starting at the weights 25, thus pass over pulleys 27, under pulleys 34, over pulleys 22 22, and thence down to the charts.

The vertically sliding frame 30, which is in the nature of -a yoke, is driven both up and down by a piston (not shown) sliding in a piston cylinder 36 and secured at the lower end of a piston rod` 40. This piston rod is secured at its upper end to a block `41 positioned between cross bars 32. The upper and lower faces of the piston are driven by uid pressure entering the cylinder through conduits 42Vand 43, which lead to a reversible pump indicated at 44 driven by a reversible motor 45 positioned under an intermediate horizontal frame member 46. It will thus be seen that when the uid under pressure enters the upper end of the cylinder the sliding frame 30 moves downwardly, carrying pulleys 34 with it. This causes weights 25 to move upwardly in their respective tubes. These weights have only suicient mass to keep the cables taut and since the charts have more mass the weights move upwardly instead of the charts. To raise a selected chart the weight carried at the opposite end yof the pair of cables connected with that chart is held which passes through an opening 51 in the weight uide tube 24 and into an opening 52 in the weight, which is aligned therewith when the weight is in the maximum downward position shown in Fig. 4. Each pin is supported for this sliding horizontal movement in openings 53 in opposed walls of a horizontal tube 54 secured to the weight guide tubes. The pin is moved forwardly by a solenoid and there is one solenoid for each of such pins. Since the solenoids are of greater width than the weight guide tubes they are alternately mounted, one above the other, on two spaced horizontal supporting frames 56 which are secured at their ends to vertical frames 57. Each pin has a shoulder 59 and is secured to a solenoid plunger 60. The pin and plunger are moved rearwardly, when they are free to travel, by a coiled spring 61 positioned between the shoulder and the horizontal tubes 54 connected with the weight guide tubes 24.

It will thus be apparent that when the circuit, hereinafter described, is closed, the pin associated with the chart desired to be raised moves forwardly to the position shown in the upper portion of Fig. 4 and the iiuid under pressure entering the upper end of the cylinder through conduit yd2 starts moving the sliding frame 3i) downwardly and since the weight associated with the pin which has been moved forwardly cannot move, the desired chart is raised.

Reference will now be made to the circuit diagram of Fig. 8. When all of the boards are in their lowered position a desired board can be raised by pressing a button at any one of the several stations. Assume the button labeled Station A Up is pressed to raise the #1 Board. Pressing of this button closes the circuit which can be traced from the 24-volt side of the transformer through the terminal, through the common terminal, through the closed button Station A Up, to the terminal board Board #1, through the winding of relay R-l and back to the 2li-volt side of the transformer, thereby completing a circuit to operate relay R-l.

When relay R-1 operates it completes the following circuits: From the 11G-volt supply through the windings of solenoid #1 through the normally open contacts of relay R-1 (relay R-1 is now operated), through the terminal blocks back to the 11G-volt supply, thereby completing a circuit to operate solenoid #1.

The other contacts of R-Ii close the following circuit: From the 110 volt supply through the normally closed contacts of Pressure Switch #1, through the normally closed contacts of relay CR-2, through the winding of CR-S, through the normally open contacts of relay R-ll, to the 11G-volt terminal and back to the 11C-volt supply, thereby completing a circuit for the operation of relay CR-3.

The upper contacts of relay CR-3 when closed provide a locking circuit for relay CR-3 which can be traced as follows: From the 11G-volt supply to the normally open contact of CR-3, through the windings of relay CR-S, through the normally closed contact of relay (2R-2, through the normally closed contact of Pressure Switch #l to the llO-volt terminal and back to the 1l0-volt supply. The closing of the lower contacts of relay CR-3 complete the following circuit. From the 11G-volt supply to the normally open contacts of relay CR-3, through the windings of relay CR-l, to the llO-volt terminal. This circuit enables relay CR-1 to operate, which sets up the proper circuit for the pump motor and pump motor field for upward travel of the boards. This circuit can be traced from the llO-volt supply through the 11C-volt terminal, through the normally open contacts of relay CR-il, through the pump motor eld, through the normally closed contacts of relay CR-Z, through the pump motor to the 11G-volt terminal and back to the 11G-volt supply.

At this time the board starts vupward travel and the button Station A Up may be released. WhCD this but' ton is released relay R-l will release, releasing the solenoid. Relay CR-3 now controls the upward movement of the board until the board has completed its upward travel when the pressure in the pump will build up sui-lieiently to open pressure switch #l which will release relay CR3. Relay CR-S, in releasing, opens the circuit to relay CR-il which will release and return the circuit to normal. The board is now in its highest position and will remain so until the Down button at any station is pushed.

For downward travel, assume the Down button at station B Down is pressed to return the board. This completes a circuit which can be traced from the 24-volt side of the transformer, to the terminal, to the terminal common, through the station B Down button, to the terminal Terminal #11, through relay R-li, to the 2li-volt terminal and back to the 24-Volt side of the transformer. This circuit allows relay R-lil to operate, causing relay CR-2 to operate through the following circuit: From the llO-volt supply, to the llO-volt terminal, through the normally open contacts of relay R-lll, through the winding of relay CR-Z, through the normally closed contacts of relay CR-L through the normally closed contacts of Pressure Switch #2, to the 11G-volt terminal. Relay CR-Z sets up the proper circuit for the pump motor and the pump motor field for travel of the boards in a downward direction. From the 11G-volt supply to the 11G-volt terminal, through the normally open Contact of relay (2R-2, through the pump motor field, through the normally closed contacts of relay CR-1, through the pump motor to the llO-volt terminal. At this time the board will start downward travel and will continue to travel until the Down button is released. This feature enables the boards to be stopped at any desired position during its downward travel so figures or other information may be changed with the board at a convenient level. When the Down button is released, it releases the relay R-l which in turn releases relay CR-Z which will return the circuit to normal. The boards are now ready to be used by any party at any station.

While there have been described herein what are at present considered preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modications and changes may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention. lt is therefore to be understood that the exemplary embodiments are illustrative and not restrictive of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims, and that all modifications that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be included therein.

What I claim is: K

1. A changeable chart exhibitor comprising a frame provided with a plurality of pairs of aligned channels at opposite ends of said frame, an elongated chart slidably positioned at opposite ends thereof in each pair of channels, a pair of cables for raising each chart to viewing position, each pair being connected at one end thereof with opposite ends of each chart, a weight connected with the opposite ends of each pair of cables and vertical tubes receiving said weights for guiding said weights for vertical travel, guide pulleys above the charts for the cables and a second set of pulleys therefor above the weights, and a vertically slidable yoke between the two sets of pulleys, said yoke being provided with a third set of pulleys below which the cables travel, each tube and weight having openings which are aligned when the latter is in lowered position, a pin which enters said opening to hold the weight immovable, whereby downward travel of the yoke will cause the chart connected therewith to raise to viewing position, a solenoid for moving each pin into weight-restraining position, hydraulic means for moving the yoke in each direction.. a

plurality of control stations, and a circuit controlling operation of the solenoids and hydraulic means.

2. A changeable chart exhibitor comprising a frame provided with a plurality of pairs of means at opposite ends of said frame, an elongated chart slidably positioned at `opposite ends thereof in each pair of guide means, cables for raising the charts to Viewing position, each cable being connected at one end thereof with a chart, a weight connected with the opposite end of each cable and a guide for each weight during vertical travel, guide pulleys above the charts for the cables and a second set of pulleys therefor above the weights, and a vertically slidable yoke between the two sets of pulleys, said yoke being provided with a third set of pulleys below which the cables travel, each guide and weight having openings which are aligned when the latter is in lowered position, a pin which enters said opening to hold the weight immovable whereby downward travel of the yoke will cause the chart connected therewith to raise to viewing position, a solenoid for moving each pin into weight-restraining position, power means for moving the yoke, and a circuit controlling operation of the solenoids and power means for the yoke.

3. The structure recited in claim 2 wherein a plurality of control stations having circuit closing means are included in the circuit.

4. The structure recited in claim 2 wherein the power means drives the yoke in both directions and closing a circuit for each chart will raise the chart its full distanc'e and manual means are provided for closing the circuit for step-by-step downward travel. l

5. The structure recited in claim 2 wherein hydraulic means are employed for driving the yoke in both directions and a plurality of control stations including switches for upward and downward travel of the respective charts are included n the circuit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,132,085 Sandor Oct. 4, 1938 2,161,982 Sandor June 13, 1939 2,313,095 Schneider Mar. 9, 1943 

